Gallop should take a run at sorting out Waratahs

Chief Rugby Correspondent

Skirting the issue … a kilted Braveheart gave stewards the runaround at Hunter Stadium after Scotland's win over the Wallabies on Tuesday. Presumably, police did indeed take his freedom after he came off second best in a battle with an advertising hoarding. Photo: Steve Christo

A heartfelt plea to David Gallop. C'mon David, I know deep, deep down you actually don't mind rugby union. Don't deny it. Here's your chance to get back at those in rugby league who have pushed you out and also keep ARU boss John O'Neill on his toes. Yes, you're the man to save Waratahs Rugby. You have the skills and the nous to get this wayward organisation back on track by taking over, being their frontman, and again making them winners. Yes, there are some in town, pensioners admittedly, who actually do remember when the Waratahs were winners. You have the contacts, the organisational skills and courage to front up whenever there's a problem. No ''four-month cones of silence'' for you, David Gallop. As you're always on the front foot and a straight talker, you can be the saviour of Waratahs Rugby. And if you laugh this off, I will get renowned league scribe and tragic Steve Mascord, the only man to replace you at the NRL, to telephone you 200 times in a row on a Sunday morning. You have been warned.

DIRECTOR PROCEEDINGS

There were fascinating scenes in the Waratahs directors box last Saturday night following the team's sixth loss in a row. Several directors were in a pow-wow, and one worried-looking power broker was clearly agitated, constantly waving his arms. No one was looking happy. Long after the bedraggled Waratahs players had left the field, the directors remained in deep conversation. Earlier in the night, the power broker watched the game with a cloth over his head in the hope he wouldn't get saturated. Didn't work. And judging from who was in the box earlier in the night, the wayward Waratahs must be seeking guidance from a certain SANZAR heavy. Stay tuned.

POCOCK POSER

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Don't expect a quick decision on where David Pocock will end up next year. We've been told he remains undecided whether to stay in Perth or take the big bucks and go to the Brumbies. There is a lot the Wallabies captain has to weigh up. And don't ever think money is the No.1 pursuit for Pocock. Far from it, he is a far broader individual. He instead wants to make a difference wherever he ends up.

TASTE OF THE ACTION

Those who run the Subbies are certainly dedicated to the cause. Several of their high-ranking officials will travel around the grounds tomorrow judging the best food in clubland. In one day: 27 venues, 27 meals. The early front runners are the Mosman ''Whale Burger'' and Lindfield's ''Quad-Meat Soldier Sandwich''. Updates will be made on the Subbies Twitter feed tomorrow, and the winner will be announced that night from the cardiac ward of a Sydney hospital. Meanwhile, the popularity of renowned Country official Bill ''The Colt'' Rowlands was on show when more than 1000 mourners attended his funeral in Cowra. And tomorrow Country play Sydney at Concord Oval. The food is pretty good there as well.

FRIEND THEN FOE

A reminder of times past. Former Wallabies captain Andrew Slack writes in tomorrow night's Test program about his first international, which was against Wales in 1978. Slack discovered he was in the Test team at the post-match function following the Queensland-Wales game. The first person to congratulate him was the man he was going to oppose - Ray Gravell. ''I didn't know what to make of the glowing support, given he would be looking to smash me come Saturday - and he did!'' Slack recalls.

RUMOURS OF THE WEEK

■ A clash between a senior Australian player and his province's CEO over the boss's procrastination on several big issues could easily see the star move away. Elsewhere, we hear the Rebels are cosying up with the Hawthorn AFL club. Stay tuned.

■ We now hear the Waratahs players' leadership group want a meeting with the Waratahs board to ''review'' them. Some of the board are interested apparently, others not. There is certainly a lot of angst in Waratahland.

■ Is it true some local clubs have received bills from a province over strange expenses involving a serial offending official named Radio because of his big mouth?

14 comments so far

I was unaware that Gallop could, organise, run, coach, promote, find sponsors and generally do everything at the Waratahs, because that is what they need.

Commenter

Hobo

Date and time

June 08, 2012, 10:06AM

Anyone who wants David Gallop as a CEO of their activities does know what a CEO does or can provide.

This is why he was moved on from the NRL - great Operations Manager, competent Legal Officer but CEO not real good.

Commenter

PxD

Location

Sydney

Date and time

June 08, 2012, 10:22AM

David Gallop was the CEO of the NRL for 10 years making it the one of most successful professional sporting competitions on this side of the world.The NSWRU can only dream of such success

Commenter

bilbo

Date and time

June 08, 2012, 12:19PM

Do you really believe an administrator type like Gallop can improve the Tahs ... ?

Gallop's flimsy 'ideas and methodology' were masked by the people's love of the greatest game of all ...

You can try and make this a tall poppy syndrome, but it’s a cyclical thing ... just ask the Reds ... good coaches and selectors meld teams, give them direction a sense of purpose mixed with pragmatic observations …

Commenter

Daniel Boon

Location

Surfers Paradise

Date and time

June 08, 2012, 10:45AM

@Daniel Boon: I think you need to recognise who appoints coaches and selectors...... that would be upper management. The Reds have a fantastic CEO and upper management team, that, along with the great coaching prowess of Link is why the Reds acheived success.

Commenter

Tolerant Jungle

Location

Sydney

Date and time

June 08, 2012, 1:09PM

Can't beleive I'm about to say this, but this is the best idea to ever come from Greg Growden.

The only other chaps capable of turning the Tah's around are Fagan, Demetriou, Alan Thompson (former Head swim coach of Australia, now works for the Bulldogs) maybe a couple of other from other sports but they won't get a look in as they don't have a footy background.

Commenter

John121

Date and time

June 08, 2012, 11:23AM

Greg spot on. David Gallop is one of the best administrators in the country. The only problem is he will want to implement change at the Waratahs and all the coat wearing, pipe smoking rah rah's will not allow this to happen and he will just be left disheartened as he was in league.

David Gallop wasn't moved because of his lack of skill as a CEO, it is because John Grant can't get his way and that the commision would rather go back to the good old days when incidents were swept under the carpet. John Grant is a small businessman trying to be a corporate which will never work.

Rugby League will go backwards because of this decision and Rugby Union will go forward whether it be the ARU or Waratahs who pick up Gallop's services.